Effect of immobilization on stability and kinetic properties of alpha-L-fucosidase from Turbo cornutus

An amount of alpha-L-fucosidase from T. cornutus liver was copolymerized with glutaraldehyde using bovine serum albumin as the carrier protein. The properties of the native, the soluble enzyme polymer complex, and the insoluble enzyme polymer complex were studied and compared under various conditions of pH, temperature, substrate, and inhibitor concentration. Native alpha-L-fucosidase was heat labile and lost more than 85% of its activity when incubated at 55 degrees C for 5 min. In contrast, under equivalent incubation conditions, both the soluble and the insoluble enzyme polymer complexes exhibited enhanced resistance to thermal inactivation and after 5 min lost only 65 and 40% of their original activity, respectively. Polymerzation also resulted in the shift of pH optima towards the acidic range, a decrease in activation energy and a change in the apparent K(m) values towards the p-nitrophenyl-alpha-L-fucopyranoside substrate.     

Some properties of the lysozymes in serum and colostrum from cows with high and low lytic power against Micrococcus lysodeikticus

Previous work has uncovered a dominant gene for high bacteriolytic activity of bovine serum against the test bacterium Micrococcus lysodeikticus. This major gene effect is also fully expressed in colostrum. In the present study the lytic power of serum and colostral whey from high and low level cows was subjected to a degree of characterization. It was found that the enzyme activities studied exhibited properties in accordance with those defined for a lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17), i.e. (1) lysis of a suspension of M. lysodeikticus, (2) basic protein (pI = 10.0 and pI = 10.3 for bovine serum lysozyme (BSL) and bovine colostrum lysozyme (BCL), respectively), (3) molecular weight (MW) approximately 16 000 for both BSL and BCL, (4) liberation of free reducing sugars during action on cell wall peptidoglycan (the kinetics of BSL and BCL differed strongly), and (5) fairly heat stable, especially at acidic pH and relative labile at alkaline pH (BCL was far more sensitive to heating at alkaline pH than was BSL). The dramatic differences in activity between high and low level animals might be due to a major genetic mechanism influencing the amount of, or the activity of, circulating enzyme molecules, rather than a structural gene coding for a certain enzyme with a particular specific activity. This is also supported by the high correlation between the lytic capacity of BSL and BCL in spite of the different properties of these lysozymes (i.e. in respect of pI, enzyme kinetics and heat stability) reported in the present study.     

Bioconversion of hemicellulose: aspects of hemicellulase production by Trichoderma reesei QM 9414 and enzymic saccharification of hemicellulose

The growth of Trichoderma reesei QM9414 in shake flasks at 28 degrees C on hemicellulose substrates and bagasse resulted in rather low yields of hemicellulolytic enzymes (1.0-1.5 units/mL xylanase and 0.05-0.08 units/mL beta-xylosidase). The influence of pH on the synthesis of beta-xylosidase was greater than on the synthesis of xylanase. Both xylanase and beta-xylosidase showed optimal activity at pH 4-5 and 55-60 degrees C. Xylanase was stable at pH 2-10 but was heat labile and totally inactivated after 1 h at 65 degrees C. Enzyme stability towards heat could be increased in the presence of bovine serum albumin. The beta-xylosidase was more tolerant to heat, but stable over a pH range 2.5-6.0. The D-xylose inhibited both enzymes in a competitive manner. Hemicellulose (heteroxylan) was degraded to the extent of 30-40%within 24 h. The degree of hydrolysis decreased as the substrate concentration increased and increased with increased amounts of enzyme. Multiple enzyme doses resulted in increased saccharification in reduced times. The degree of hydrolysis was influenced by the amount of beta-xylosidase present in the hemicellulolytic enzyme preparation. The -;xylosidase was demonstrated to play an important role in the overall conversion of heteroxylan into xylose that is analogous to the role of beta-glucosidase in the saccharification of cellulose by cellulases.     

Serum alpha-mannosidase in patients with alcoholic liver disease

Sera from 9 persons with either biopsy-proven alcoholic liver disease or a history of chronic, excessive ethanol consumption were analyzed for their content of various hydrolases. Compared to controls, significant elevations in the following enzyme activities were seen in sera from the patient population: acid phosphatase (2.0-fold), beta-glucuronidase (2.1-fold), hexosaminidase (1.4-fold), and alpha-L-fucosidase (2.3-fold). In addition, alpha-mannosidase activity, previously reported to be unchanged in cases of hepatic cirrhosis [Reglero et al., Clinica chim. Acta 130: 155-158], (1980) was found to be significantly increased (p less than 0.001) when assays were performed at acid (pH 4.5) or intermediate (pH 5.5) hydrogen ion concentrations. Fractionation of sera on DEAE-Sephadex columns showed that the increase in alpha-mannosidase activity in the serum of patients with alcoholic liver disease was due to increases in the level of at least one 'acid alpha-mannosidase' and two intermediate pH optimum alpha-mannosidases. The general increase in the activity of a group of glycosidases is consistent with a hypothesis involving decreased clearance of glycoproteins from the blood of persons with hepatic cirrhosis.     

Human alpha-L-fucosidase: a common polymorphic variant for low serum enzyme activity, studies of serum and leukocyte enzyme.

Serum alpha-L-fucosidase was assayed in 422 individuals. Extremely low levels of enzyme activity were found in 26 individuals. This variant enzyme has increased heat lability. The remaining samples exhibited a bimodal frequency distribution. Family studies suggest that the variant is inherited as a Mendelian recessive character. The variant leukocyte enzyme exhibits normal activity yet increased heat lability. Serum and leukocyte samples from individuals who do not possess the low activity variant are heterogeneous with respect to the heat lability of alpha-L-fucosidase. This common polymorphism may be useful for mapping purposes in family studies.     

Altered serum alpha-D-mannosidase activity in mucolipidosis II and mucolipidosis III.

Normal human serum contains at least three forms of α-D-mannosidase: an acidic form which has a pH optimum of 4.25, is inhibited by Co²⁺ and is thermostable; an intermediate form, which has a pH optimum of 5.6–5.7, is stimulated by Co²⁺ and is heat labile at 50°C; and a neutral form with a pH optimum of 6.0–6.5. In Mucolipidosis II and III sera, the acidic α-mannosidase activity persists while the intermediate activity is absent or altered. Heating the serum does not affect the pH activity curve, the electrofocusing profile or the response to Co²⁺ of α-mannosidase. During heat inactivation at 55°, 90–100% of the pH 5.6 α-mannosidase activity is lost in normal sera while less than 40% is lost from ML sera. The effect on sera from ML obligate heterozygotes is intermediate. The absent or altered intermediate mannosidase may be responsible for aberrant biochemical properties reported for other glycosidases in Mucolipidosis II and Mucolipidosis III.     

Amoebacidal effects of serum from the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Treatment of axenic Naegleria gruberi cultures with alligator serum resulted in time-dependent amoebacidal activity, with measurable activity at 5 min and maximal activity occurring at 20 min. The amoebacidal activity was concentration dependent, with measurable activity at 25% serum, whereas treatment of amoebas with undiluted serum resulted in only 16% survival. The efficacy was dependent on the concentration of amoebas, with higher survival rates at high amoeba densities and lower survival rates at low amoeba densities. The amoeba-killing effects of alligator serum were broad in spectrum because the serum was effective against 3 strains of Naegleria species tested and 4 Acanthamoeba species, which have been reported to be resistant to human serum complement-mediated lysis. The amoebacidal effects of alligator serum were temperature dependent, with optimal activity at 15-30 C and a decrease in activity below 15 C and above 30 C. The amoebacidal activity of alligator serum was heat labile and protease sensitive, indicating the proteinaceous nature of the activity, and was also inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, which indicated a requirement for divalent metal ions. These characteristics strongly suggest that the amoebacidal properties of alligator serum are because of complement activity.     

Immune immobilization of Treponema pallidum: antibody and complement interactions revisited

The Treponema pallidum immobilization test was designed for serodiagnosis of syphilis and is dependent upon specific antibody and a heat labile component of normal serum. Investigators have shown the component to be dependent upon divalent cations and it is presumed to be complement. Experiments were performed to reevaluate the interactions of antibody and complement and the mechanism of immobilization. The loss of treponemal motility was correlated to the loss of complement activity in the reaction mixture. When motility of treponemes incubated with immune serum IgG and complement had dropped to 50% (3.4 h), 72% of the available complement had been consumed. At the same time, treponemes incubated with normal serum IgG and complement were 82% motile and only 51% of the complement had been consumed. C6 deficient rabbit serum and C4 deficient guinea pig serum were used in conjunction with immune serum IgG to determine which components of the complement cascade were necessary for immobilization. Treponemes were not immobilized by either sera. Results suggest that the heat labile factor in normal sera is complement, that both early and late components of the complement cascade are necessary, and that the reaction proceeds via the classical complement pathway. Although T. pallidum is susceptible to the actions of antibody and complement, the organisms must interact with these components for at least 2 h before immobilization will result.     

Purification of a nontoxic phospholipase A2 from the venom of Indian krait (Bungarus caeruleus).

A nontoxic phospholipase A2 was purified from the venom of Indian krait (Bungarus caeruleus) by a four-step procedure involving electrophoresis, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The recovery of the enzyme activity was 37% and the purified preparation was 38 times as active as the crude venom. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of 12,500 and the optimum pH of 7.2. The enzyme showed higher specificity toward phosphatidylethanolamine than phosphatidylcholine. The preparation was not very labile to heat and its activity was dependent on the presence of divalent cations, calcium ions being the most effective activators. The enzyme was completely inhibited by iodoacetic acid but showed high stability against 8 M urea. Purified phospholipase A2 was nontoxic at an iv dose of 5 microgram/g mouse. The high specific activity, the high yield and the nontoxic nature of the enzyme indicate that the major form of phospholipase A2 in Bungarus caeruleus venom is not associated with any toxicity and has properties somewhat similar to that of phospholipase A2 from some other venoms.     

Characterization of mouse liver alpha-L-fucosidase. Demonstration of unusual basic isoelectric forms of the enzyme that appear to be developmentally regulated.

Mouse tissues contain unusual basic isoelectric forms of alpha-L-fucosidase (with approximate isoelectric points of 8.3 and 9.0) in addition to the usual acidic and neutral forms previously described in tissues of other species. These unusual forms are very prominent in placenta and foetal tissues and comprise approx, 50-80% of total activity up to 11 days of postnatal development. By 15 days of postnatal development, the basic forms are diminished in amount and comprise not more than 25% of total activity. Neuraminidase treatment of adult mouse liver alpha-L-fucosidase led to significantly decreased amounts of acidic forms and increased amounts of the basic forms, suggesting that these forms are chemically related at least in part by sialic acid residues. Comparative kinetic studies on mouse liver, human liver and mouse placental alpha-L-fucosidases indicated that they have the same Km (0.05-0.06 mM) for 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-L-fucopyranoside but different pH optima and thermostability properties. Mouse liver alpha-L-fucosidase has one pH optimum (5.5) and an acidic shoulder (centred around pH 4.0) compared with two distinct optima (4.3 and 6.8) for the human liver enzyme. Mouse placental alpha-L-fucosidase has a pH-activity curve comparable with that of the mouse liver enzyme except that the acidic shoulder is absent. Mouse liver alpha-L-fucosidase is considerably more thermolabile after preincubation at 50 degrees C than are the human liver and mouse placental enzymes, which gave similar thermodenaturation curves. Immunochemical studies indicated that mouse and human alpha-L-fucosidases are dissimilar antigenically but exhibit some cross-reactivity. The IgG fraction of antibody prepared in goat against human liver alpha-L-fucosidase was ineffective by itself in immunoprecipitating mouse liver alpha-L-fucosidase, but 63% and 72% of the mouse liver and placental enzymes respectively could be immunoprecipitated in the double-antibody experiments under conditions that immunoprecipitated 92% of the human liver enzyme.     

Activity and properties of alpha-L-fucosidase are dependent on the state of enterocytic differentiation of HT-29 colon cancer cells

Previously we have demonstrated an impairment in the activity of alpha-L-fucosidase in colon tumours. In order to establish an in vitro model to study this enzyme in colon cancer, we have determined the activity and properties of the enzyme during the differentiation of HT-29 colon cancer cells. Cultures were committed to differentiate into enterocyte-like cells by placing them in a culture medium without glucose for 18-21 days. The state of differentiation was evaluated by assaying the activity of enterocytic marker enzymes, and the acquisition of enterocyte morphology was assessed by electron microscopy. The alpha-L-fucosidase activity was determined using a fluorometric method. Intracellular levels of alpha-L-fucosidase activity are lower in non-differentiated cells (3.0 +/- 1.01 U/mg) than in differentiated ones (9.2 +/- 4.09 U/mg) (P < 0.001). This variation is not due to a greater secretion of the enzyme to the culture medium, and properties such as pH optimum or the affinity towards substrate are not dependent on differentiation. The enzyme however, is more stable at acidic pH and at high temperatures, and V(max) is higher in differentiated cells. Moreover, in undifferentiated cells the enzyme is mainly in a monomeric form whereas multimeric forms of the enzyme appear only upon differentiation. Most of these changes are very similar to those previously observed between normal colon tissue and colon tumours. Thus, we suggest that differentiation of HT-29 colon cancer cells could be used as a model to study the alterations of the enzyme alpha-L-fucosidase during the progression of the tumoural process.     

Adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis by purified rubisco activase

Activation of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco) in vivo is mediated by a specific protein, rubisco activase. In vitro, activation of rubisco by rubisco activase is dependent on ATP and is inhibited by ADP. Purified rubisco activase hydrolyzed ATP with a specific activity of 1.5 mumol min-1 mg-1 protein, releasing approximately stoichiometric amounts of ADP and Pi. Hydrolysis was highly specific for ATP-Mg and had a broad pH optimum, with maximum activity at pH 8.0-8.5. ATPase activity was inhibited by ADP but not by molybdate, vanadate, azide, nitrate, or fluoride. Addition of rubisco in either the inactive or activated form had no significant effect on ATPase activity. Incubation of rubisco activase in the absence of ATP resulted in loss of both ATPase and rubisco activation activities. Both activities were also heat labile, with 50% loss in activity after 5 min at 38 degrees C and complete inhibition following treatment at 43 degrees C. Both activities showed a sigmoidal response to ATP concentration, with half-maximal activity at 0.053 mM ATP. Rubisco activation activity was dependent on the concentrations of both ATP and ADP. The results suggest that ATPase activity is an intrinsic property of rubisco activase.     

Change in intracellular activity and secretion of various lysosomal glycosidases of human fibroblasts cultured in medium with sucrose

Intracellular activation of lysosomal glycosidases from human skin fibroblasts (alpha-L-fucosidase, beta-D-hexosaminidase, beta-D-galactosidase and beta-D-glucuronidase) was shown to occur on the 3rd-6th days of cultivation in media containing 0.04 M sucrose. The increase in the enzyme activity ranged from 40 to 300% depending on cell strain, nature of enzyme and cultivation time. Among pre- and postnatal fibroblast strains, those with a high and low response to sucrose load were identified. The maximal intracellular activation was observed in beta-D-galactosidase, the minimal one--in beta-D-glucuronidase. In pathological cells (Krabbe's disease) the highest activation by sucrose load was observed, as in normal cells, with beta-D-galactosidase, whereas the lowest one--with beta-D-glucuronidase. Secretion of lysosomal glycosidase is selective and noncoordinated. The maximal secretion of alpha-L-fucosidase and beta-D-hexosaminidase was observed within the first 24 hours (intensive sucrose endocytosis), but was considerably decreased at later times, i. e., by the 3rd and 6th days. The enzymes secreted during the 1st and 3rd days differed significantly in stability (37 degrees C, pH 7.0).     

alpha-L-Fucosidase in the reproductive organs and seminal plasma of the bull

alpha-L-Fucosidase (EC 3.2.1.51) activity was studied in different reproductive organs, seminal plasma and spermatozoa of the bull. The highest specific activity of alpha-L-fucosidase was found in the epididymis. Gel filtration at pH 7.0 revealed two alpha-L-fucosidases (alpha-L-fucosidase I and alpha-L-fucosidase II) in most reproductive tissues, but seminal plasma, spermatozoa and epididymal cauda contained only form I. Fractionation at basic pH (pH 8.5) resulted in the elution of alpha-L-fucosidase as form II. Some differences were encountered in pH profiles and thermal stabilities of the two enzyme forms and they showed additional polymorphism after chromatofocusing. The comparison of enzyme profiles after fractionations suggests that cauda epididymidis is the main source of the seminal plasma activity in the bull.     

Yeast glutathione reductase. Studies of the kinetics and stability of the enzyme as a function of pH and salt concentration.

1. The pH dependencies of the apparent Michaelis constant for oxidized glutathione and the apparent turnover number of yeast glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2) have been determined at a fixed concentration of 0.1 mM NADPH in the range pH 4.5--8.0. Between pH 5.5 and 7.6, both of these parameters are relatively constant. The principal effect of low pH on the kinetics of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction is the observation of a pH-dependent substrate inhibition by oxidized glutathione at pH less than or equal 7, which is shown to correlate with the binding of oxidized glutathione to the oxidized form of the enzyme. 2. The catalytic activity of yeast glutathione reductase at pH 5.5 is affected by the sodium acetate buffer concentration. The stability of the oxidized and reduced forms of the enzyme at pH 5.5 and 25 degrees C in the absence of bovine serum albumin was studied as a function of sodium acetate concentration. The results show that activation of the catalytic activity of the enzyme at low sodium acetate concentration correlates with an effect of sodium acetate on a reduced form of the enzyme. In contrast, inhibition of the catalytic activity of the enzyme at high sodium acetate concentration correlates with an effect of sodium acetate on the oxidized form of the enzyme.     

Activity and kinetic characteristics of glutathione reductase in vitro in reverse micellar waterpool

The enzyme activity of glutathione reductase (NAD(P)H:oxidized-glutathione oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.4.2) incorporated in CTAB/H2O/CHCl3-isooctane (1:1, v/v) reverse micelles has been investigated. Enzyme follows the Michaelis-Menten kinetics within a specified concentration range. Effects of pH, waterpool (W0), and surfactant concentration on the activity of glutathione reductase have been studied in detail. Optimum pH for the maximum enzyme activity was found to be dependent on the size of the waterpool. Further, a substrate inhibition was observed when concentration of one of the substrates was present in large excess over the other substrate. Km values for the substrate, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and NADPH in CTAB/H2O/CHCl3-isooctane (1:1, v/v) were determined at W0 values of 14.4, 20.0, 25.5 and 29.7, at pH 8.0. These values are close to those obtained in aqueous solution, whereas the kcat values vary with W0 values of 8.8 to 32.3. Studies on the storage stability in the reverse micelle at W0 29.7 and pH 8.0 showed that glutathione reductase retained about 80% of its activity even after a month. The enzyme showed a higher stability at high waterpool. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) provides protection to glutathione reductase against denaturation on storage in reverse micellar solution. Apparently, the enzyme is able to acquire a suitable native conformation at waterpool 29.7 and pH 8.0 and thereby exhibits an activity and stability inside the micellar cavity that are almost equivalent to that in aqueous solution.     

Influence of Protein Factors on the Activation of NADP–malate Dehydrogenase by Dithiothreitol

Leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris L. contained malate dehydrogenase activity dependent on NADP (E. C. 1.1.1.82); it could be detected in extracts only when a dithiol such as dithiothreitol was present. After the addition of dithiothreitol, the activity increased with time, passed through a maximum and then diminished. The activation rate and/or the maximum level of activity were essentially dependent on dithiothreitol concentration, pH, and temperature. The presence of bovine serum albumine or glycerol in the medium decreased the inactivation rate; equivalent results were obtained at low temperatures. A mathematical model was established showing an apparent first-order rate for activation and inactivation only under conditions of alkaline pH near 8.3. These data allowed us to demonstrate that compounds other than dithiothreitol were necessary for the activation process. Evidence suggested that these compounds were protein factors of low molecular weights which increased the activation rate and the maximum level of activity when added to the incubation medium at pH 7.3. Their efficiency in the enzyme activation was higher at alkaline pH than at acid or neutral pH.     

Glycosyltransferases of the human cervical epithelium. I. Characterization of a beta-galactoside alpha-2-L-fucosyltransferase and the identification of a beta-N-acetylglucosaminide alpha-3-L-fucosyltransferase

Using phenyl beta-D-galactoside as an acceptor, alpha-2-L-fucosyltransferase activity was identified in human cervical epithelium with pH optima at 6.0 and 7.2. The different response to p-chloromercuribenzoate, and ability to utilise asialofetuin as an acceptor, suggests the presence of two fucosyltransferases. The acid form is probably involved in glycoprotein synthesis in vivo. At pH 6.0, fucosyltransferase has a temperature optimum of 25 degrees C, requires the presence of Triton X-100 and either manganese or magnesium for maximal activity, and has Km values for GDP-L-[14-C]fucose and phenyl beta-D-galactoside of 32.1 . 10(-6) M and 8.2 . 10(-3) M, respectively. Guanosine nucleotides are potent inhibitors of the fucosyltransferase reaction; GDP is a competitive inhibitor while, depending on its concentration, GTP can either inhibit or activate the reaction. The alpha-L-fucosidase present in cervical tissue has negligible activity towards the enzyme product, phenyl-alpha-2-L-[14C]fucosyl-beta-D-galactoside. The use of high and low molecular weight acceptors indicates the presence of a beta-N-acetylglucosaminide alpha-3-L-fucosyltransferase and an N-acetylgalactosaminide fucosyltransferase.     

Nonspecific phosphodiesterases of human leukocytes, blood platelets and serum

Phosphodiesterases from blood cells and serum can be subdivided in several groups according to substrate specificity, optimum pH and effects of inhibitors: 1) Acidic phosphodiesterase activities were not inhibited by EDTA, represented the whole p3'T hydrolysing activity, but only a part of the activity hydrolysing the other substrates (p5'T was not hydrolysed at acidic pH). This acid phosphodiesterase activity was high in white blood cells and platelets but very low in serum. 2) Neutral phosphodiesterase activity was prevalent in leucocytes when BpP and BMP were used as substrates. 3) Alkaline phosphodiesterase activity was characterized by substrate specificity at optimum pH and distribution in cells and serum: in serum there are phosphodiesterases hydrolysing all checked substrates (p3'T excepted) at optimum pH 9.0, whereas in blood cells alkaline phosphodiesterase activities are very low for all substrates (excepted for p Phi Pn and p5'T). In each cell and serum we have determined, for all phosphodiesterase activities, the linearity of activity of versus time and versus protein concentration, the effect of substrate and effector concentration and the heat stability.     

Properties of a beta-D-mannosidase from Aspergillus niger

The beta-D-mannosidase (beta-D-mannoside mannohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.25) from culture filtrate of Aspergillus niger has been purified in large amounts by fractionation with (NH4)2SO4 and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The removal of traces of alpha-D-galactosidase was performed on a Sepharose-epsilon-aminocaproyl-galactosylamine column. The final enzyme preparation (specific activity 188 units) has no other glycosidase activity and is judged homogeneous. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 130 000 +/- 5000 and an isoelectric point of 4.7. The amino acid composition of the enzyme is characterized by high proportion of acidic amino acids and no cysteine residues and a single chain structure of the enzyme is suggested. The enzyme shows maximum activity on p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-mannopyrano-side at pH 3.5 and at 55 degrees C. The presence of 80% of beta-sheet structure in the protein and 20.8% of monosaccharides (Gal : 1.3; Man : 7; GlcNAc : 1) could explain this relative high heat stability (up to 2 h at 55 degrees C). Enzyme activity is inhibited by mannose (Ki = 7.85 mM) and the specificity is examined.